The Chelsea Flower Show

Very early on Tuesday morning, as soon as the gates of the Chelsea Flower Show were opened, the intrepid members of the Barbados Horticultural Society’s team hurried inside to catch a first glimpse of whatever certificate the judges had awarded them and placed on their exhibit during the night. And there it was, in all its glory … a Gold Medal! That very precious, highly sought after, most prestigious, extremely elusive, and for most exhibitors, never achieved, ultimate accolade in the horticultural world – a Gold Medal at the Chelsea Flower Show. Barbados had won one! And, quite incredibly this was Gold Medal number 16 for Barbados in 27 consecutive and highly commendable appearances at the show. When added to all the other medals won, 10 Silver-Gilt and 1 Silver, this all equates to a truly incredible achievement and a phenomenonal record of continued success.

The chosen theme for this year’s exhibit is the Sailor’s Valentine, an extraordinary art form that represents a truly unique link between Barbados and Britain. During the 1800’s, when Britannia ruled the waves and Barbados was a major maritime hub in world trade, floods of British sailors poured into Bridgetown in search of ‘fun and frolic’. While there they also looked for special souvenirs to take home for their sweethearts, with the Sailor’s Valentine being the most special of all. Many of the finest examples still in existence today were originally purchased at the New Curiosity Shop in Bridgetown, owned by the Belgrave brothers. The classic Sailor’s Valentine is housed in an octagonal mahogany box with a glass cover to protect an intricate, delicate and painstakingly assembled collage of tiny, naturally coloured seashells, often incorporating a floral motif, a heart shape and a verse or message.

To make one of these beautiful pieces requires the talent and skill of a fine artist, the precision of a surgeon and the patience of a saint. That being the case therefore, there was never any doubt that recreating Sailor’s Valentines in a floral design would provide the Barbados team with possibly its greatest ever challenge. And they rose splendidly to the occasion!

To portray the exquisite magnificence of the Sailor’s Valentine, the team members created four enlarged floral replicas, with each one symmetrically positioned within a 20ft x 20ft formal landscaped area that is itself nestled in an octagonal perimeter to reflect the shape of the boxes. Each quarter of the garden is separated by four walkways, created with seed-pods from the Mahogany tree, converging into a lush tropical interior – resplendent with McArthur Palms, Dracaenas, Cordylines, Philodendrons, Heliconias, Anthuriums, Ginger Lilies and Orchids.

As soon as the exhibit first started to take shape, the general consensus of random passers-by was that this was something very special indeed. By the time it was almost complete on Sunday afternoon, many strangers were predicting a Gold Medal. But the Barbados Team has been coming to Chelsea for long enough to know that there is no such thing as a certainty and they would never take anything for granted – least of all a Gold Medal. So it was with real concern and genuine anxiety that the team awaited the judges’ decision. And that made the eventual news of the Gold Medal success all the sweeter.

To add some more icing to an already delightful cake, the Barbados Association of Flower Arrangers, ably represented by Jackie Ferdinand and Wayne Ramsey, also tasted success by winning a Silver Medal in the Sculpture in the Garden section of the show with their beautiful entry entitled ‘Temptation’.

It is worthy of note that the members of the Barbados Horticultural Society Team are all unpaid volunteers. They take great pride in the fact that they grow, pick and pack their own blooms and foliage, all collected from private gardens and nurseries around the island, and ship them from Barbados to Chelsea in numerous very large boxes. The working team at Chelsea this year comprises Jenny Weetch, Shirley Anne Howell, Carol-Anne Brancker, Trevor Inniss, Wayne Ramsey, Alexia Rudder, John Leach, BHS President Orson Daisley, Jackie Ferdinand, Sally Miller and Trevor Hunte, with Keith Miller giving support with PR work. In addition, there is also a small army of other volunteers who do diligent work behind the scenes throughout the year. The tremendous ongoing success of Barbados at the Chelsea Flower Show is very much the result of a great collective effort, whereby many people willingly share their skills and resources.

Being entirely dependent upon financial support from the Barbados Tourism Authority, corporate Barbados and generous individuals, as well as the donation of flowers from C.O.Williams and a list of other people too long to mention here, the society is particularly grateful this year for the generous contribution of Sir Martyn Arbib and Lady Arbib, who have shown themselves to be true friends of Barbados. On Monday, Lesley Garrett, the highly respected and very popular British soprano, kindly made a special guest appearance at the show on behalf of Barbados during the Press and Celebrity Day, which is one of the UK’s most distinguished and important PR events. Lesley, who is a regular visitor to the island and who recently performed to great acclaim at the Holders Season, attracted plenty of attention from the media and did an excellent job of promoting Barbados. Also in attendance at the event were several distinguished Barbadians, including Mr. Don Johnson, the acting Barbados High Commissioner in London, and Daphne Hunte, who is one of the world’s leading shell artists and modern day creators of Sailors’ Valentines. Daphne was accompanied by her husband Robin, of The Merrymen fame.

As the Chelsea Flower Show continues for the rest of this week, hundreds of thousands of attendees will view the Barbados exhibit each day and enjoy a small but wonderfully delicious taste of what our beautiful island has to offer. Winning a Gold Medal is undoubtedly a monumental success for the Barbados Horticultural Society Team, but perhaps their greatest achievement is the exemplary way in which they represent their country with such dignity and excellence at the highest level on the global stage. If you ever want to see what Pride and Industry really looks like, just visit the Barbados exhibit at the Chelsea Flower Show.

The Real Treasures Of The Caribbeans...

Can you imagine that recently to the shores of the Caribbean landed filibusters were hiding their treasures? Would be great to find the pirate treasure! But what island enwombs these treasures? Martinique, Guadeloupe, Trinidad and Tobago, Dominica, and still very attractive for many, many names, disturbing the mind and do not give to sleep at night. And we know little about them. With the exception of Cuba, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Antigua, Barbados, all the other Caribbean islands remain unexplored, and for several reasons:

The islands are expensive and not specifically unwind, as interested in preserving its beauty and virginity, focusing primarily on the quality of tourists, rather than their quantity.

Those who manage to solve this issue, discover the real treasures of the Caribbean: an exotic vacation on the beautiful fairy-tale island.

A few facts about the Caribbean islands:

1. Caribbean Islands are located between the North and South America, where lies a blue Caribbean Sea or as it used to be called Filibusterian.

2. The Caribbean island got their name owing to big and combative Carib Indian tribe that once lived on their picturesque shores, and later was almost completely destroyed by the colonialists. To date, only about three thousand of the remaining Caribbean Indians live in the north of the island of Dominica.

3. Caribbean Indians were given the names of the islands by their distinctive features: "The Land of Flowers" for Martinique, the "Island of beautiful waters" for Guadeloupe, "fertile ground" for Saint Kitts, "High her body" for Dominica, etc.

The Spanish, British, French and other travelers, invaders, mainly used the names of the saints: St. Vincent, St. Kitts, St. Martin, etc.

All of the Caribbean is actually very different: from the landscape, nature, and ending with people inhabiting them. On each island under the influence of cultures of the colonizers (English, French, Spanish etc), imported slaves from Africa and local residents - created its own indescribable explosive mixture.

Golf, polo, motor racing and tennis will be developed in Barbados to attract new tourists

Minister Richard Sealy in a recent interview with local press said that the sport needs to develop in the country in such a way that it was interesting not only locals but also tourists. He noted that many sports events on the island can be integrated into the tourism industry. "There was a time when our country could attract tourists only cricket, and perhaps sailing. Now added to this list golf, polo, motor racing and tennis," - the official said. "I believe that our island has an area of 430 square kilometers, offers such a variety of sports like no other place on earth. We must continue to develop this successful combination of tourism and sports, to attract more tourists to our country," - he said.

Barbados - the most easterly of Caribbean islands (34 km in length, 23 km in width). The island, surrounded by coral reefs, on the west by the Caribbean Sea, north and east to the coast of Barbados drew near the Atlantic Ocean.

Barbados enjoys a reputation as one of the most favorable places to live on the planet. The island marked a record for the planet of long-living people.

Also of Barbados known as the reserve of big money, famed rockoshnymi resorts for the discerning and demanding travelers.

Following the adoption of the 2003 law on the development of tourism, Barbados has witnessed unprecedented growth of investment in the tourism sector. Since then, the island attracted capital of about $ 1 billion.

Now comes to Barbados every year more than one million tourists leaving the island more than $ 700 million. Within a few years to build 11 new hotels for 406 rooms, ten hotels have expanded and repaired.

Among the most popular entertainment: a variety of water sports including scuba diving, restaurants, renowned for excellent cuisine, polo, golf, shops, duty-free, jeep safari, walk through the caves, flying in helicopters, beach parties, trips to " pirated schooners, yachts and catamarans, party with limbo and swallowing fire, deep sea fishing, swimming with sea turtles, dive into the underwater world in a submarine, etc.

Honeymoon on the Islands

Honeymoon should be the most happy and memorable event of your life. The perfect solution - a journey to the exotic tale of the island, which are so similar to paradise.

Warm recollection of snow-white beaches, azure sea and amazing landscapes will remain with you until the end of life.

Seychelles:

Perfect, pristine white beaches of soft sand, or rather, not even sand and coral dust. Delicious tropical climate and warm turquoise waters caressing the diverse and tranquil islands. Kaleidoscope of virgin forests, exotic birds and animals, pristine water, filled to the brim with colorful fish. Seychelles - all this and much more. Everything is created for love, all steeped in it. Here is the craziest dream come true. Weddings in the Seychelles are usually held on the territory of the hotel at sunset. Almost all 5-star hotels are on their territory chapel. In addition, the ceremony can be carried out on the pier, the beach or even on a yacht.


Maldives

Hundreds of tiny coral islands scattered in the warm waters of the Indian Ocean. Truly paradise with pristine, untouched nature, ideal climatic conditions and spectacular scenery, which you can appreciate, going on a cruise on a yacht or a flight to the seaplane. Underwater world in Maldives is also very diverse, beautiful and rich, so they are ideal for diving enthusiasts and marine fishing. Among the multitude of islands with white sand beaches and palm groves lovers can choose from and totally uninhabited, where nobody will prevent enjoy each other.

Jamaica

Unpredictable, bright, romantic love of the island, where the air is filled with aromas of ripe fruit and bright flowers, and in the charm and splendor of which entered all the conditions for the enjoyment and happiness, to celebrate the most important events of your life.

Vivid sights, exotic nature, perfect white sand, sparkling waterfalls and rivers, majestic mountains - are unpredictable and bright, like a cacophony of sounds and flavors of Jamaican wedding and honeymoon ... widest range of delightful hotels for all tastes will exceed your expectations and will cherish your novel. This is - your wedding, and the world around us is subject to your wishes. One has only to wish - and magnificent bouquets of fabulous tropical flowers will fall at your feet, the village baker will prepare a special Jamaican wedding cake, rings out a divine Jamaican music while you dance together for the first time as husband and wife ...


Barbados

Especially attractive for tourists vacation in the islands, where nature has not yet affected by man-made civilization. The air in these places clean and healthy person. For example, island Barbados, which is called the "little England". And it is not surprising, because for many centuries, Barbados had absorbed the traditions and culture of the British Empire. Here people drink afternoon tea, play cricket and golf. However, the first to enter Barbados were not the Englishmen, but the Portuguese, which gave the name of the island - "Los Barbados", which means "bearded".

Equip yourself with unforgettable moments of happiness in the fairy islands, snow-white beach and the endless beauty of the ocean...

Barbados - an island where love lives!

Barbados - the small, reminiscent of pear-shaped island, which lies in the chain of the Small Antilles.
The first settlers in Barbados were Amerindian nomads. Three waves of immigration have passed through the island, which is then sent in the direction of North America.

The name "Barbados" comes from the Portuguese explorer Pedro Campos (Pedro Campos) in 1536, initially named the island «Os Barbados» (bearded) because of the abundance growing on its fig trees, entwined like beards epiphytes. Between 1536 and 1550 years, Spanish conquistadors seized many Caribs on the island and used them on the plantations as slaves. Some Caribs still escaped from the island.

Despite the fact that Barbados for many years was a British colony, the African influence pervades their daily lives - from the gastronomic preferences to architecture and street names.

A popular tourist destination, Barbados has 50 years of the last century. By the 70-island has been gaining popularity, and today the annual number of guests in Barbados over a million people. The main attraction is its stunning beaches, mild climate and cheerful people, fond of holidays. The island is often called the little England, because of the many traditions and ways of spending time is inherited from that country. For example, such as a game of cricket, golf, old English church.
The white sand beaches, coral reefs, the abundance of historical sites associated with the era heyday of piracy, and the traditional carnivals make this island one of the gems of the Caribbean Sea.

Barbados offers excellent opportunities for recreation: here is waiting for tourists surfing, diving, excursions to the Wildlife Sanctuary in the north of the island, exciting descents in the karst caves and grottos with underground rivers and lakes.

Secluded bays and magnificent beaches of pink sand, special rates for newlyweds in most hotels and a huge amount of entertainment is an ideal island for a honeymoon.
Today Barbados - one of the most developed Caribbean islands with high levels of life and extensive infrastructure. Barbados is proud of its tradition of wedding ceremonies and offers a wide range of services for their conduct.